Entrepreneur gambles, wins at Video Gaming
| 11 December 2006 |
As reported by: Tennesse
As a sophomore at Tennessee Tech in 1977, Jon Yarbrough turned his love for foosball into a business, placing a game table he had bought inside a Cookeville pool hall in return for a share of the profits.
Thirty years later, he leads one of the United States' fastest-growing private companies, which has grown by leasing gaming machines to casinos run by Native American tribes.The success of Smyrna-based Video Gaming Technologies recently earned Yarbrough the 2006 Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the category of media, entertainment and communications.
"He exemplifies an entrepreneur," said Vic Alexander, chief manager for KraftCPAs of Nashville, which until last year was Video Gaming's accountant. "He's faced significant hurdles in his drive to success and worked diligently to overcome those."
In 1991, two years after first starting Video Gaming with money from selling a previous business, Yarbrough ran out of money and ended up selling the technology that had been developed by his engineers. He worked a year for the buyer, then went through a period of being unemployed and depressed, considering himself a failure.
After attending a motivational seminar, Yarbrough said, he resumed a practice of reading inspirational books - a habit he had picked up during his college days as a door-to-door book salesman for the Nashville-based Southwestern Co.
"Basically, they were books that help you to believe, have faith in yourself, think positive and develop a vision," he said of titles such as Think and Grow Rich and Acres of Diamonds.
With money drawn on a credit card, Yarbrough resurrected Video Gaming. After demonstrating his products, three gaming machine operators in South Carolina put up deposits that allowed him to start producing more of the equipment.

Article By: Tennesse
Thirty years later, he leads one of the United States' fastest-growing private companies, which has grown by leasing gaming machines to casinos run by Native American tribes.The success of Smyrna-based Video Gaming Technologies recently earned Yarbrough the 2006 Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the category of media, entertainment and communications.
"He exemplifies an entrepreneur," said Vic Alexander, chief manager for KraftCPAs of Nashville, which until last year was Video Gaming's accountant. "He's faced significant hurdles in his drive to success and worked diligently to overcome those."
In 1991, two years after first starting Video Gaming with money from selling a previous business, Yarbrough ran out of money and ended up selling the technology that had been developed by his engineers. He worked a year for the buyer, then went through a period of being unemployed and depressed, considering himself a failure.
After attending a motivational seminar, Yarbrough said, he resumed a practice of reading inspirational books - a habit he had picked up during his college days as a door-to-door book salesman for the Nashville-based Southwestern Co.
"Basically, they were books that help you to believe, have faith in yourself, think positive and develop a vision," he said of titles such as Think and Grow Rich and Acres of Diamonds.
With money drawn on a credit card, Yarbrough resurrected Video Gaming. After demonstrating his products, three gaming machine operators in South Carolina put up deposits that allowed him to start producing more of the equipment.
Article By: Tennesse
Post a Comment
Top Online Casino Choice
Bodog Casino

REFER YOUR FRIENDS | Earn up to £30 / €30 / $30 cash for each friend you refer to Bodog Sportsbook, Casino and Poker Room

REFER YOUR FRIENDS | Earn up to £30 / €30 / $30 cash for each friend you refer to Bodog Sportsbook, Casino and Poker Room
Share it
Latest News
- World Poker Tour® Season X Premieres Sunday February 12th on Fox Sports Net®
Date: 10 February 2012 - Online Casino, Casino Online.co.pt, Announces New Website
Date: 10 February 2012 - Sale of Smaller Riverboat Complete in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Date: 10 February 2012 - PA Lottery: Feb. 11 Powerball Jackpot is $310 Million, Fifth Largest in Game History
Date: 10 February 2012 - PA Lottery: Feb. 11 Powerball Jackpot is $310 Million, Third Largest in Game History
Date: 10 February 2012 - Gamesys: Online Bingo Winner Gets Lucky With A Special Grand Prize!
Date: 10 February 2012 - Titan Casino Shows Players the Love with a Free EUR10 Valentine's Day Bonus
Date: 10 February 2012 - Senate Committee Hearing Focuses on Justice Department Internet Gambling Ruling
Date: 10 February 2012 - Sky Announce New Poker Game: Timed Tournaments
Date: 10 February 2012 - One of the Sexiest Slot Games in Vegas is Finally Online! Introducing the Mermaid's Gold(TM) Slot, Only at JackpotParty.com
Date: 10 February 2012







Readers Comments
No comments have been submitted yet for this article.